From Indonesia to Australia

If it's a taste of exotic authenticity you're after, prepare to be spell-bound by the island of Bali, tucked away in the heart of the Indonesian archipelago. The beauty and diversity of its landscapes, the depth and richness of its cultural heritage and the plethora of activities on offer here make Bali a little slice of heaven on Earth. The island's southern coast enthrals with its white-sand beaches, its picturesque little fishing villages such as Benoa, and its hills patchworked with terraced rice paddies further inland. Nicknamed 'the Island of Gods' for its sumptuous temples, Bali is the beating heart of Indonesian Hinduism.

Imagine a pure blue sky with only a few cotton wool clouds lazily bobbing across it, a calm sea that gently laps against a beach where the soft sand is neither golden nor black, but a delicate powder pink... Pink Beach is one of just seven beaches on the planet where this very special pink sand can be seen. The distinct pink hue results from the mixture of calcareous white sand with the eroded deep red skeleton of the organ pipe coral. The fringing coral reef is in excellent condition, the waters are crystal clear and harbor colorful reef fish that can be found just a short distance from shore. Enjoy an afternoon ashore at Pink Beach, one of the easiest places in the tropics to snorkel and explore nature’s richest realm.

The remote island of Komodo is the birthplace of legend and myth, conjuring images of volcanic smouldering landscapes crawling with giant mythical creatures. The prehistoric “dragons” are among the world's largest reptiles, growing to over 3 meters in length and weighing over 70kg. In 1991 the national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Join your expedition team and the knowledgeable local park rangers on a guided 2-hour walk in search of dragons. It is not just the dragons that make Komodo so unique - its location in the heart of the Wallacea ecoregion results in the combination of species representing both Australian and Asiatic faunas.

From age-old traditional cultures and ancient vestiges, to coral reefs and lush green jungle…the attractions of the remote Banda archipelago seem endless. Better known as the legendary “Spice Islands” of the Ancient World, these small volcanic landmasses were the fabled prize of colonial powers for more than four centuries. Every colonial power of significance fought for control of these ten small islands that today have become largely forgotten. Walking the streets of Banda Neira is a surreal experience as your eyes are drawn to the eclectic mix of Portuguese, Dutch, and British architecture, the remnants of a rich and tumultuous history. It is without doubt the most historically significant and interesting of all the “Spice Islands”.

The Kei Islands are a natural paradise with brightly colored coral reefs offering some of the best diving sites in the world. You have the opportunity to snorkel on the fringing reef from the fleet of zodiacs. The islands are blessed with kilometers of stunning, yet almost entirely empty, white-sand beaches and a deeply hospitable population. Local history holds that ancestors of contemporary Kei islanders came from Bali. Today mostly Christian, Kei culture is fascinatingly distinctive.

Triton Bay is one of three regions in Indonesia’s West Papua province that comprise the Bird’s Head Seascape (the other two are Raja Ampat and Cenderawasih Bay), which is now considered by marine biologists to be the epicenter of the Coral Triangle. It contains more fish and coral species than anywhere else on the planet. Its unparalleled marine biodiversity and endemism, habitat richness, and relatively intact nature of its ecosystems are unique. Join your expedition team for a zodiac voyage through the spectacular rainforest-capped karst islands. Later in the day enjoy the opportunity to explore the richness of the underwater realm.

Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located at the tip of Northeastern Australia. The region has been described as the largest unspoiled wilderness in Australia. The relatively undisturbed eucalyptus-wooded savannahs, tropical rainforests, and other types of habitat are now recognized for their global environmental significance. At the tip of the peninsula lies Cape York, the northernmost point on the Australian continent, that usually takes travelers 5–7 days over some of the planet’s toughest and remotest roads. The easiest way to “stand on the tip” is to take a luxury voyage, be transferred ashore by ship’s zodiac directly onto the beach, and walk the last 500m!

Washed by the Coral Sea, the harbor town of Cairns is located on Australia's northeast coast. The seafront esplanade is a popular place for locals and visitors to walk, swim, and picnic under the shade of swaying palm trees. The hills surrounding Cairns form the gateway to the Queensland Rainforests, proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage site for their fauna and flora from the Gondwana era.